1 layout & 7 genga sheets of young Itachi fighting a Root member
Naruto: Shippūden Episode 454 is titled "Itachi's Story - Light and Darkness: Shisui's Request".
It originally aired on March 24, 2016, as part of the Itachi Shinden-en: Light and Darkness filler/adaptation arc. [1, 2, 3]
📝 Episode Summary
The episode focuses heavily on the growing brotherly bond and development between a young Itachi Uchiha and his mentor, Shisui Uchiha. [1, 2]
The Setup: Still grieving the death of his teammate Tenma Izumo, Itachi awakens his Sharingan. Fugaku tries to discuss the eyes with him, but Itachi remains emotionally distant. Shisui steps in to take Itachi away for a multi-part training exercise in the Forest of Death. [1, 2]
The Conflict: During their training, the duo stumbles upon a real battlefield conflict. They discover Foundation (Root) Anbu members attacking a Konoha Anbu officer over a classified scroll containing a traitor's name. [1, 2, 3]
The Battle: Despite the confusion of seeing allies fighting allies, Shisui is resolute in stopping the conflict. Itachi and Shisui team up to defeat the aggressive Root members, showcasing their advanced coordination and brotherly chemistry. [1, 2, 3]
The Aftermath: Shisui tends to Itachi's minor injuries, helping him adjust to the delay between his Sharingan's perception and his physical reaction time. Years later, the episode concludes with Itachi officially joining the Anbu Black Ops to watch over Konoha from the shadows. [1]
English Voice Cast: Crispin Freeman (Itachi), Michelle Ruff (Child Itachi), Nicolas Roye (Shisui), Erica Mendez (Child Sasuke), Doug Stone (Fugaku).
the episode effectively highlights Shisui's heavy philosophical influence on Itachi's views of justice, peace, and conflict. While the episode functions at a slower, character-driven pace, the training sequences and quiet dialogue carry great emotional weight for understanding Itachi's future sacrifices
